Up the Gogway ...

Read my thoughts and comments in my blog "Up the Gogway". There's nothing sinister about the name. I was born on a beautiful farm in Kent, along a leafy lane called The Gogway. Half way up the wooded hill leading to our farm was a drainage cut, my sisters and I called The Wo-wo Hole. That was the only scary place and we used to run past it as fast as we could!

Find our Dancing Ledge

Dancing Ledge is an extraordinary landmark on the Jurassic Coast near Langton Matravers on Dorset's Isle of Purbeck. Since moving to the county, the ledge and the countryside nearby, have been favourites for walks and picnics, and as you can see from the picture above, we have also recently seen it from above.

To see more of my photographs and to read Jeremy's writings on theatre, art, music and life, and to see some of his interesting features click on this link: http://www.dancingledge.com

Walkingtalks!!

When I'm not taking photographs, I enjoy taking people on guided walks in and around the Bournemouth area. Walkingtalks is a relatively new venture, but the various walks I have organised have been well received and fun to do.

Bournemouth has a remarkable history and many interesting writers, artists, politicians and performers are connected to the area. My walks aim to describe, entertain and introduce people to some of the hidden secrets of the town and it’s surrounds. For details go to http://walkingtalks.wordpress.com

Welcome to hattiemiles.com

I've been a professional photographer for more than thirty years - and there's seldom been a dull moment. I'm very lucky to have chosen a career that has given me great opportunites and lots of fun too.

Now freelance, and working alongside my husband, writer Jeremy Miles, I take photographs almost daily. I work for a variety of employers including national and regional magazines and newspapers. I also specialise in photographing artists, actors, writers and broadcasters. You can see some of my favourite portraits on the gallery section of this site.

Above is a photograph of me working on Christmas Day a few years ago. Believe it or not, I'm covering the annual festive swim on Boscombe Beach. Batman and Robin were just two of the brave souls who turned up in fancy dress. Just out of shot are dozens of other bizarrely dressed individuals who took to the chilly waters as part of the Bournemouth Spartans' plunge. If nothing else, it's proof that photographers seldom take a day off!!

A splash for the British Heart Foundation:

The annual Pier To Pier Swim takes place every July. Seasoned swimmers race into the sea close to Bournemouth Pier and swim to Boscombe to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Loads of money is raised by these brave swimmers. This is an event I have photographed many times, and is one I really enjoy doing. Not a great swimmer myself, it's amazing to me that 1,500 hardy souls take part

Quote of the month:

“How many pictures have you torn up because you hate them? What ends up in your scrapbook? The pictures where you look like a good guy and a good family man and the chidren look adorable - and they’re screaming the next minute. I’ve never seen a family album of screaming people.”Richard Avedon

Thank you everyone whose given me interesting photographic work since 2011 when I became a freelance, and to all the lovely people who come on my walkingtalks too!!

Thank you Paul Williams for all your help over the past years … your skill at getting the very best out of a photograph is just fantastic! Highly recommended for all digital photo printing.

Thank you Chris Howard and everyone at Amica IT for being such fun and for being marvellously patient! Highly recommended for all IT issues.